Daily English Article — August 14, 2026

A horrifying incident shook the community of Hopkins, Minnesota, on Wednesday morning when police discovered three people dead at an in-home daycare on Tyler Avenue North. A parent dropping off their child reported a stabbing just after 9 a.m. Officers arrived to find 41-year-old Nathan Brown, 41-year-old Kristen Ann Brown, and a seven-year-old girl named Evie all deceased. The tragedy is being investigated as a suspected murder-suicide involving members of the same family.

According to a search warrant filed the same day, Nathan Brown died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, while Kristen Brown and the child, Evie, were found dead from stab wounds. Preliminary evidence identified Nathan Brown as the perpetrator. Police said the couple were likely the owners and operators of the daycare. Six other very young children were also present inside the home at the time but were physically unharmed and have since been reunited with their families.

The tragedy did not end in Hopkins. Investigators linked the case to a separate homicide in the nearby city of Burnsville, where a 78-year-old woman was also found dead. Police described the victim as believed to be a close family relative of Nathan Brown. Detectives were still working Wednesday evening to determine the full circumstances surrounding her death and to establish a clear connection between the two incidents.

Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson described the situation as the worst possible scenario for any parent. He stressed that there was no ongoing threat to the broader community and that the incident appeared to be isolated. Investigators are still working to establish a clear motive. Hopkins Mayor Patrick Hanlon expressed deep grief on behalf of the tight-knit community, saying the city had shed many tears over the immense loss.

Neighbors near the daycare expressed shock and disbelief. Local resident Jean Healey, who knew the couple personally, said both had seemed friendly and normal, making the tragedy impossible to comprehend. Another couple shared that they had been considering enrolling their children at the very same daycare. The incident has left the community deeply shaken, raising painful questions about safety in places where families place their greatest trust.

Google has unveiled significant durability upgrades for its Pixel 11 Pro series, claiming that the new devices are the toughest Pixel smartphones ever made. Both the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL feature a new anti-scratch display coating applied on top of Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Google states this coating makes the screens more than twice as scratch-resistant as those found on previous Pixel models, while the phones also maintain IP68 certification for water and dust protection.

A Google spokesperson revealed to 9to5Google that the proprietary anti-scratch coating is approximately 800 nanometers thick, roughly one percent of the thickness of a single human hair. It is sandwiched between the glass itself and the oleophobic coating on the surface. Google tested the coating by simulating real-world scenarios, such as a phone sitting alongside keys and nail files inside a purse. Despite confirming its effectiveness, the company declined to disclose the exact materials or methods behind the coating.

The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL also feature the Super Actua display, which achieves a peak brightness of 3,600 nits, offering exceptional clarity even under direct sunlight. While Apple and Honor have leaned heavily into ceramic cover glass to boost durability, Google's approach with its anti-scratch coating is notably distinct. The company has not officially mentioned ceramic in connection with the Pro and Pro XL models, leaving some intrigue around the exact composition of the new coating.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold takes a different route entirely. Rather than traditional cover glass, its outer display uses a new ceramic glass material, though Google has not named the supplier. The back cover is made from a glass fiber composite that the company describes as nearly impossible to crack. Google claims the Fold is three times more durable than last year's Pixel 10 Pro Fold, also featuring a redesigned gearless hinge to better protect the inner display.

It is worth noting, however, that the inner display of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has not received the same level of upgrades as the outer screen, which remains a notable limitation for the foldable device. Google's bold durability claims across the entire Pixel 11 Pro lineup have attracted considerable attention, though real-world testing will ultimately determine whether these promises hold up. All three models — the Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold — are currently available for pre-order.